Chelsea are moments away from kicking off in their crucial Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine.
Having lost their opening match to Porto, before beating Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho’s men begin tonight’s game third in Group G, one point behind Kiev.
Chelsea’s modest start to their 2015-16 European campaign means that they could really do with a win this evening, but perhaps it is more important that they simply don’t lose?
A defeat in Kiev coupled with a win for Porto over Maccabi would leave Chelsea four points short of second place with three games to go.
Having looked at Chelsea’s starting XI, former manager Glenn Hoddle, who was in charge of the Blues between 1993 and 1996, suggested that Mourinho has picked a team with the intention of guaranteeing one point.
Hoddle said live on BT Sport: “It’s a point he needs. I think he’s going to pick the side that will go for the point.
“If he gets a win, he’ll be delighted with that, but I think he’s really looking at it and saying ‘the home game against Porto and Maccabi away, they’re the six points we’ve got to go for. If we lose this it puts so much pressure on Chelsea’.
“So, for me, it’s a point he’s looking for.”
Hoddle’s opinion was echoed by fellow BT pundit Emmanuel Petit, who was a Chelsea player between 2001 and 2004.
Petit, who also represented Arsenal and Barcelona, said: “When I look at the teamsheet, I think Mourinho will settle for a point as well.”
Chelsea’s starting XI includes Kurt Zouma at right-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta on the left, presumably with the intention of keeping Andriy Yarmolenko as quiet as possible.
Here’s how @ChelseaFC are set to line up for tonight’s Champions League game against Dynamo Kiev… #CFC pic.twitter.com/BfutfdEVUg
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 20, 2015
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